ON THE DISPOSING OF EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 149 



wise, he may toil away, and when he sends the product of his "pains 

 and perseverance for the inspection of some competent judge, he may 

 perhaps find out that they are all worthless. How often is this the 

 case? And in most cases, it proceeds from using inferior varieties as 

 breeding flowers, those far behind the standard of excellence. 



ARTICLE III. 



REMARKS ON THE DISPOSING OF EVERGREEN TREES AND 



SHRUBS. 



If yews be planted in proximity to a mansion, for the sake of valuable 

 shelter from bleak winds, they should not assume a prominent posi- 

 tion, but should be interspersed with groups of Weymouth pine or 

 bay, and be faced with laurels of luxuriant growth. By such con- 

 trast, the gloom of their dingy leaf is relieved with vivid and glossy 

 green ; or, if the contrast appear too strong, it may be mellowed by 

 blending Portugal laurel in an intermediate position. In short, the 

 recommendation cannot be too frequently reiterated, to substitute a 

 studied assortment of tints for tasteless indiscriminate admixture. 

 Let but the pictorial artist be permitted, or the amateur condescend, 

 to transfer his principles of taste, the one from his easel, the other 

 from his gallery, to occasional superintendence of English landscape- 

 gardening, and he would contribute to the production of a living 

 vegetative picture, constituting incalculable improvement in style, 

 and commanding inevitable commendation from the spectator of cul- 

 tivated taste. Nay, pleasure-grounds thus constructed would excite 

 universal admiration, and impart universal gratification. Picturesque 

 effect, copying and harmonising with natural scenery, elicits plea- 

 surable emotions, even in such as "know not why, and care not 

 wherefore." But, for accomplishment of such an important de- 

 sideratum, science must be suffered to acquire unlimited confidence, 

 in exercise of control ; while prejudice must cease to plead for 

 senseless " custom, more honoured in the breach than in the ob- 

 servance." An individual proprietor, or a public association, might 

 rest assured of the anticipation of a result decidedly warranting the 

 experiment. 



In resumption of the topic of evergreen trees, for formation of a 



